Paul Skenes didn’t disappoint at the Yankee Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Toeing the rubber for the first time in the Bronx, Skenes showcased exactly why everyone’s been talking about him. The Pirates’ pitcher struck out three Yankees, sending all six batters he faced packing. Wrapping up a planned abbreviated outing, as Skenes delivered fastballs that zipped past bewildered hitters, his command and poise belied his rookie status. At just 22 years old, Paul is rewriting the rulebook for rookie starting pitchers. After kicking off his season in Triple-A, he’s carved out the most dominant rookie season in the last 50 years.

With his girlfriend, LSU gymnast and social media star Livvy Dunne, cheering him on from the stands, Skenes delivered. He showcased a dazzling 100-mph fastball, a mid-90s sinker that danced through the zone, and some wicked off-speed pitches that left hitters guessing. “Definitely glad to finish the season here, especially against this lineup,” Paul Skenes said, according to the New York Post, after leading the Pirates to a 9-4 victory over the Yankees in the Bronx. “I wish I could keep going, but that’s where we’re at. I like New York; this place is one of the destinations in baseball for sure” he added. 

After striking out Juan Soto and Aaron Judge in the first inning, Skenes capped off his rookie campaign in style. Freezing Soto with a perfectly placed heater over the inside corner and getting Judge to wave at a nasty sweeper, he fired a blistering 99.6 mph fastball that painted the low inside corner. Moreover, sending Jazz Chisholm Jr. packing, Paul had a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts in just 133 innings. But here’s the kicker: Paul Skenes has made history as the first rookie pitcher since Scott Perry in 1918 to rack up at least 23 starts with a stunning sub-2.00 ERA.

Can Skenes continue to redefine what it means to be a rookie? Yankees manager Aaron Boone couldn’t help but rave about him: “Pretty dynamic. The ease with which he does it—you don’t feel like he’s max-effort out there.” Still, the baseball world questions: Is he worthy of becoming the ‘ROY’? 

Can Paul Skenes bag the ROY title this season?

It’s hard not to think Paul Skenes deserves the National League Rookie of the Year title. He was the first overall pick in the 2023 draft and a starter in the All-Star Game. Finishing the year with just two earned runs in 24 innings and racking up 32 strikeouts? That’s impressive. Pirates manager Derek Shelton Pirates even had a heart-to-heart with Skenes ahead of his last two starts. Their meeting focused on a plan to keep his innings in check.

After throwing five solid innings against the Reds last Sunday, the Pirates #30 pitcher wrapped up the year with a total of 160 ¹/₃ innings, including his time in the minors before his call-up on May 11. When asked about his goals, Skenes kept it simple: “Just take the ball and pitch.” He’s got a lot to build off for next year, but it’s clear his mindset is all about winning. Hearing him talk about his hopes for 2025—“Win a lot of baseball games”— fans are excited for what’s ahead.

Paul Skenes’ nine-strikeout performance on Sunday led the Pirates to a 2-0 win over the Reds. Manager Derek Shelton wasn’t shy about making his case for Skenes as the National League Rookie of the Year. “Look at what this kid’s done this season!” Shelton said, clearly excited. “He’s a gamer. You want that in a rookie of the year,” he added, highlighting that he’ll sure be a front-runner when awards time rolls around. 

What’s your take on Paul Skenes’ baseball trajectory, can he win the ROY title? Share below.